Global Light Orphans

Global Light Orphans Is Gaining Momentum

Rotarians Jolly and Kurt Lux presented an impressive video at the March 4th meeting of their home club. It tells of the work their organization Global Light Orphans, GLO, has done over the last three years in Uganda. Jolly and Kurt are members of the Avon-Canton Rotary, the Club that has provided initial funding and ongoing monetary support.

Jolly is recently returned from another visit to Uganda. Among GLO's achievements:

Village Health Teams have been formed. This provides contact by team members with those who live in outlying areas. The workers wear red t-shirts, so they can be easily identified.

Epilepsy Ambassadors - Masindi has a high incidence of epilepsy. This program allows 200 patients to receive monthly support and medicines.

Medical Camps - the first camp treated 500 people. The second camp treated 4,000 people! The next camp in September will see many more with the help of volunteers from Simsbury (CT) United Methodist Church.

Water Tanks which were purchased with a grant from the Avon-Canton club are able to provide clean water to 400 families.

GLO wants to establish a health clinic which could help 1,200 patients per month. They also plan to establish a greenhouse on land donated by the local church. This will provide food and work for the healthcare workers. The proceeds from selling produce will also help to pay the healthcare workers.

Jolly and Kurt were effusive in their thanks to the Avon-Canton club for making much of this possible through three grants to GLO totaling $8,010.

Other District 7890 clubs that have financially supported GLO include Farmington, Southington, Torrington, West Hartford and Simsbury.

Governor Kyong strongly suggests that more district clubs stand behind Jolly and Kurt. The growing number of Rotary clubs that have made donations are helping this missionary effort to gain momentum.

GLO has not had any significant problems with the Ugandan government, which may be due to the fact that Jolly was born in Uganda. Also, Uganda's problems which make it to American news outlets are in a different part of the country.

(The village GLO has "adopted" had no potable water until the installation of this tank.)

Rotarians Salin Low and Dale Bronson contributed to the writing of this article.